McDonald says
‘Hello Kitty’

McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii will be offering 8-inch Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel plush dolls at all McDonald's restaurants statewide beginning Friday.

Six dolls will be offered as wedding couples in the form of a "Sweetheart Wedding couple" dressed in gown and tuxedo (available Friday), "Crew Wedding Couple" wearing McDonald's uniforms (available Nov. 10), and "Space Millennium Wedding Couple" with the pair in astronaut gear (available Nov. 17). Each doll will be sold separately for $4.99 with the purchase of any menu item.

The dolls are being created exclusively for McDonald's under license from Sanrio. During the promotion, Hello Kitty will be making impromptu visits at McDonald's restaurants throughout the state.

Christina makes a mint

Christina Aguilera's recent concert at the Stan Sheriff Center attracted 8,009 ticket buyers who paid $360,405 for the soldout performance in the first event of its kind at the University of Hawaii venue.

The Center has several hundred more capacity than the Blaisdell Arena when configured the same way, said promoter Tom Moffatt.

Two days earlier at Key Arena at Seattle Center, the Aguilera concert sold 12,059 tickets -- about 90 percent capacity -- grossing $388,830.

Tickets in Honolulu cost $45; in Seattle, $25 and $35.

MORSELS

HECO
Oven-made kalua turkey is featured on "Electric Kitchen."

Electric specialties for the holidays
Holiday meals are the theme of this month's episodes of "The Electric Kitchen." Guest chefs are current and former employees of Hawaiian Electric Co.: Jeff Chuck, Sam Nichols, David Kaneshiro and Hilda Martinez of the Energy Services department and Ron Tokuda, a recent retiree from the customer services department.
Shows in the first half of the month, "A Melting Pot for Thanksgiving," will include dishes such as Kalua Turkey, Local-Style German Potato Salad and Fried Somen.
The second half, "Sweet Beginnings & Endings for the Holidays," will feature Pumpkin Roll, Custard Mochi and Coquito (Puerto Rican-Style egg nog).
"Electric Kitchen" airs at 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 8:30 p.m. Mondays, 5 p.m. Tuesdays and 6 p.m. Thursdays on Oceanic Cable Channel 16 (although the show will be pre-empted tomorrow, Monday and Nov. 9). It also airs on Maui at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 12, 13, 26 and 27 on Calabash Channel 44 (52 in Lahaina).
Here is a recipe from the segment now airing:

Oven Kalua Turkey
12 large ti leaves
10- to 12-pound turkey, rinsed and drained
1/2 bottle (3-1/2 ounce size) Liquid Smoke
1/4 cup Hawaiian salt
Wash ti leaves; remove fibrous part of the veins. Line a large baking pan with foil; place leaves in the pan, radiating from center.
Put turkey on leaves. Rub liquid smoke and salt inside and outside the turkey. Fold leaves around turkey and crimp foil tightly around it all. Add a little water to the pan.
Roast at 375 degrees for 6 hours. Shred turkey, adding pan liquid to moisten meat. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Nutritional information unavailable.

Dinner affairs
"Vintners in Paradise 2000": More than 150 wines from throughout the world will be featured in a progressive pupu party through Restaurant Row, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Sample dishes from Baci, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar and Sunset Grill, along with vintages from 56 wineries. Cost is $45, including a commemorative wine glass. Call 732-7733.
"World on a Platter Tour": The Wild Mushroom offers an all-in-one date night complete with dinner, music and dancing, Nov. 11. Kim Char Meredith, winner of the 1999 Hawaii Music Award for "Most Popular Pop Artist," will perform.
Chef Sean Priester's Mediterranean menu includes Lamb Brochette, Chicken Romesco, Spanikopita and Moroccan Butternut Squash Ratatouille.
The Wild Mushroom is in the Richards Street YWCA. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m., with dancing in the courtyard 8:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $22 in advance; $25 at the door. Call 254-5462 or visit the Web site www.womenwithguitars.com.

Sam Choy's Kitchen
November's wine-tasting events at Sam Choy's Diamond Head:
Nov. 3: "Maui Wowie, Flavors of the Valley Isle," 5 to 6:30 p.m., $20. Features a sampling of Merlots from JMD Beverages, as well as a Martin Ray Chardonnay, Mas Das Bressades 1999. Pupus will feature Maui sausages and Maui onion confit.
Nov. 10: "A Zest for Zins," 5 to 6:30 p.m., $20. A selection of white and red Zinfandels from American Wines and Spirits, served with chicken empanada, poke "tower" and steamed herbal clams.
Nov. 15: Beaulieu Vineyards Wine Dinner, 6 p.m., $50. Eight featured wines include Beaulieu's new Sonoma Chardonnay and Napa Valley Cabernet. Four-course menu includes Lobster Combo, Citrus-Cured Salmon, Seared Duck Breast with Kumquat-Braised Foie Gras and Grilled Veal Medallion with Crispy Veal Sweetbread.
Nov. 17: "Tailgate Tasting," 5 to 6:30 p.m., $20. Wild ales and spiked lemonade from Paradise Beverages with poke specialties and ribs.

Learn while you eat
"Everything But the Bird": Alan Wong's November cooking lesson focuses on Thanksgiving side dishes, noon Saturday, fourth-floor kitchen, Liberty House Ala Moana. Tickets are $25 and include a reserved seat and food samplings. Others may stand and watch for free. Call 945-8888.
"Pupus for Entertaining": Learn to make potstickers, Hawaiian-style chicken and vegetarian rolls, 1 p.m. Saturday, Leeward Community College, $15. Call 455-0477.

Healthier diets
"Nutrition, Diabetes and Weight Control" Seminar: Find out how to use diabetes food groups to improve health from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Castle Center for Health Promotion. Call 263-5400 to register. Free.
Vegetarian Health: Michael Klaper discusses trace minerals, essential fatty acids and protein in the vegetarian diet at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Ala Wai Golf Course Club House. Call 944-8344. Free.

Puerto Rican style
Market day: Sample Puerto Rican foods and culture at Puerto Rican Market Day 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 11, at 1249 N. School St.
Sponsored by the United Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii, the fair will feature arts and crafts booths, books, musical instruments, CDs, Puerto Rican dishes and food products and more.
Vendor space is still available and may be reserved by calling 941-5216 or 847-2751.
"Vegetarian Cuisine from Puerto Rico": Edwin Pacheco prepares authentic heart-healthy Puerto Rican dishes at the Castle Center for Health Promotion from 7-8:30 p.m. Nov. 9. $10, includes a vegetarian meal. Call 263-5400 for reservations.

Cook up a winner
"Bake it Better With Oats" Recipe Contest: Family recipes in the categories of "easy everyday favorites," "lower-fat favorites" and "kids favorites" are being accepted through Nov. 30. A grand prize of $10,000, three $1,000 prizes and nine $250 second prizes will be awarded. Enter online at www.quakeroatmeal.com; email at OatContest@aol.com; or mail to: Quaker Oatmeal Recipe Contest, P.O. Box 3305, Chicago, Ill. 60654.

Hawaii's Kitchen rerun
The episode of "Hawaii's Kitchen" that aired at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on KHON Fox 2 was a rebroadcast of the Feb. 27 program featuring dishes from Mariposa restaurant at Neiman Marcus. The recipes were published in the Star-Bulletin March 1, and can be found online at https://archives.starbulletin.com/2000/03/01/features/story3.html

TO YOUR HEALTH

Hospice Month begins
A wine tasting and silent auction at Sam Choy's Diamond Head Grill kicks off National Hospice Month at 5 p.m. today. The event is a benefit for Hospice Hawaii, which is organizing a month of activities under the theme "Hospice Care: Comfort and Compassion When it's Needed Most."
Tickets are $20, available from Lani Miyabara by calling 924-9255, ext. 245.
Other events:
Borders Books & Music in Ward Centre hosts Hospice Appreciation Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11. There will be keiki activities, prize drawings and talks. Information on hospice will be available.
A film screening of "God Said Ha!" takes place 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at Honolulu Academy of Arts Theatre. Comedian Julia Sweeney's one-woman show explores death and dying with warmth and humor. Tickets are $5, $3 for Academy members, at the door. Call 532-8768.
Speakers are available throughout November to groups interested in learning more about hospice care. Call Kehau Kali at 924-9255, ext. 227, for more information.
For more information about Hospice Hawaii, call 924-9255.

Stick a pin in your calendar
Ever been to a workshop where you felt like you were being stuck with pins? Now you can experience the real thing.
Straub Foundation is sponsoring a free public meeting, "Healing in Paradise: Integrating Alternatives in Health," from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Hawai'i Convention Center's Kalakaua Ballroom.
The forum will include interactive workshops on acupuncture, energy healing, lomilomi, meditation, yoga, and other activities. Speakers will address topics ranging from Chinese medicine to the role of alternative therapies in treating common diseases.
To register, or for more information, call 524-6755.

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